Auburn has decided to relieve Gene Chizik of his head-coaching duties after a series of disappointments during the 2012 season, according to Bruce Feldman of CBS Sports.
Gene Chizik has been told that he is out at Auburn as the Tigers head coach a source just told me.
— Bruce Feldman (@BFeldmanCBS) November 25, 2012
Chizik was hired to replace Tommy Tuberville in 2009. In just his second season at the helm, he and quarterback Cam Newton led the Tigers to a 14-0 record and the university’s first national championship in 53 years. — Bruce Feldman (@BFeldmanCBS) November 25, 2012
But Chizik has made history in the wrong way this year, and the team’s 1-6 record was the worst the program had fared through seven games since 1952, as noted by ESPN.
The Tigers limped to a 3-9 record, going a pathetic 0-8 in the SEC, and the calls for Chizik's job grew louder with each passing week.
Chizik led the Tigers to an 8-5 overall record and a Chick-fil-A Bowl victory over Virginia last season, and he has built a reputation as one of the best recruiters in the country during his tenure in Auburn. From 2010 to 2012, Rivals.com never ranked his incoming classes lower than 10th in the nation.
However, Chizik was unable to get his talented team to perform on the field this year, and the likely scenario of a winless SEC campaign caused the administration to move in a different direction. If the team fails to defeat any of its next three conference opponents, it will be the first time it goes winless in an eight-game SEC schedule, according to CBS Sports’ Jerry Hinnen.
The program enjoyed a storied history and a proud tradition. While losing seasons are never ideal, this level of futility could not be tolerated in the administration’s view.
It will surely be a bumpy road forward for Auburn following the coaching change, but Chizik’s successor will not have to win many games in order to improve on this season.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1378707-gene-chizik-reportedly-fired-as-auburn-head-coach
